Rail-joint.



H. T. HUGHES.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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- RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATIONFILED JUNE 24, 1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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HUGH THOMAE HUGHES, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 SHELLEY M. STRAIN, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters .Eatent.

Patentedllieb. 116, 143915..

Application filed June 24, 1914. Serial N0. 847,030.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HUGH THOMAS TTUGHES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of ()hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of that class of joints especially adapted to be used in connecting the meeting ends of two railroad rails, to the end that a positively op erating joint may be provided which will prevent rattling or pounding of the wheels at the rail ends. To this end the invention includes a holding member secured to the meeting ends of the rail having a socket within which is held a block having a flange over which the car wheels pass to compensate for the dipping of the rail ends under weight and prevent the pounding and clicking of the wheels at the joints.

Another object is to provide a rail joint including a connecting member having a socket within which is held a block having an active flange engaged by the car wheels the connecting member being bendable withing certain limits, so that as the block is engaged the connecting member w1ll p1nch the block to prevent any rattling or vibration of the same.

A still further object is to provide a fish plate forming member including a shoulder adapted to receive the head of the rail and an upstanding active flange engaged by the treads of the wheels to prevent pounding at the rail ends.

l/Vith these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the appended claims, it being further understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views: Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of a rail joint embodying my invention connected to the meeting ends of two rails. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2, 2, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached detail of the block. Fig. 5 shows a slight modification in which the wall of the socket has an incision permitting the flexing of the base of the connecting member to insure the block being pinched and clamped within the connecting member while a car wheel is passing over the block.

In carrying out the aim of my invention I provide a rail joint including a connecting member having the base 10, which at its ends is provided with the overlying top flanges 8, 8, from which are continued the upstanding end flanges 11, 11. These flanges 11 are of any suitable length and are provided with suitable openings arranged to receive the securing bolts 12 by means of which the member is secured to the rail ends.

In the drawings I have shown two connected rail ends, the heads of which are marked A, the webs B and the bases C. Intermediate of the end flanges 11 which are arranged to lie against the webs and the under face of the rail heads is a flange 14: forming a continuation of these flanges 11 having the two end sections 9. This flange forms a socket in conjunction with the web and bases of the meeting rail ends within which is held a suitable block 16 including an upstanding flange 5 adapted to be engaged by the tread of the car wheels passing over the rail ends. The block is shown in perspective view in Fig. 4: and is provided with a shoulder formed by the faces 5 and 6, this shoulder being of a shape to accurately receive the under part of the head of the rail, in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The inner face 7 of this block is arranged to lie against the web of the rails while the base 3 is held upon the outer face of the rail bases. The socket-forming flange 14 upon the inner side is provided with the lengthwise running groove 15 shown in Fig.

2, arranged to receive the outer edge of the rail bases. As disclosed, the flange 1 1 extends upward as high as the underface of the rail heads A while the flange 5 extending from the block 16 extends very slightly above the top of the rail heads A. In Fig. 1, the top 4: of the block flange 5 is shown as ending flush with the top of the rail heads A, though in actual practice I prefer that the top A shall extend a slight distance above theupper surface of these heads, so as to allow for the resiliency of material when a car wheel passes over the rail. The ends 2, 2, of this block 16 preferably extend at right angles to the inner face of the block. In actual practice the thickness of the block 16 is slightly greater than the distance at, between the outer faces of the rail webs and the inner faces of the flange 14, as will be understood in referring to Fig. 2, so that the bolts used to clamp the connecting member to the rail flanges will also assist in clamping the block between the rail ends and flange 1 1 to prevent any vibration of this block within its socket. As shown in the drawings, this connecting member is complementary to a fish plate including the base 18 and the top 19, shown in Fig. 2. As disclosed, the base of the fish plate, as well as the base of the connecting member underlie aproximately half of said rail ends. While I have shown the connecting member as secured to the rail ends by means of but two bolts, it should be understood that any suitable number of bolts may be employed. Further, if desired, the block as well as the flange 14; may be provided with oblong openings arranged to receive suitable bolts. In the drawings no bolt openings are shown within the block or flange 14.

In Fig. 5 I show a modification in which the flange 14 is provided with an edge-entering slot 20 which extends down to the base 10. When a car wheel passes over the block 16, the base 10 will be slightly flexed resulting in the end portions of the flanges 14; binding against the block 16 to securely hold the same against any rattling.

The ends of the flange 5 are preferably rounded, as shown at o, in Fig. 4.

In preparing these blocks 16 they are made out of a continuous rail cut into suitable lengths and provided with rounded ends and openings where desired. It is of course understood that these block members 16 are made of rail steel so that they will withstand the wear of the wheels passing over the same.

The socket forming offset 1 1 may be of any length.

A rail joint embodying my invention is simple of construction, comparatively inexpensive and is both durable and eflicient in operation, and the device further may be used in connection with the rail ends of the conventionally constructed rails, as are in present use, and can be placed in position or removed with ease, accuracy and despatch.

Having thus described my said invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with the meeting ends of two rails, of a fish plate having a base portion underlying approximately half the base of the rail ends upon one side, a connecting member complementary to said fish plate including a base portion underlying approximately half of said rail ends upon the side opposite and including opposite end flanges arranged to lie against the web of said rail ends with an intermediate socket-forming offset, a block in said socket having a shoulder to receive the heads of the rail ends with an upstanding flange adapted to engage the tread of a car wheel passing over said rail ends, and means to connect said fish plate, block and connecting member to said rail ends.

2. A connecting member of the character described, including a base portion adapted to underlie approximately half the width of a rail base and including oppositely positioned top flanges arranged to overlie the bases of the meeting ends of two rails and having upstanding end flanges arranged to lie against the webs of two rail ends with an intermediate socket forming offset, and a block in said socket having a shoulder to receive a rail head with an upstanding flange adapted to engage the tread of a car wheel.

3. A connecting member of the character described, including a base portion adapted to underlie the base of a rail and having oppositely positioned top flanges arranged to overlie the base of a rail and having upstanding end flanges with an intermediate socket forming offset and an interior lengthwise running groove to receive the edge of a rail base, and a block in said socket having a shoulder and an upstanding flange adapted to be engaged by the tread of a car wheel.

1. The combination with the meeting ends of two rails, of a connecting member including a base portion underlying the bases of said rail ends and including oppositely positioned top flanges to overlie the bases of said rail ends and having upstanding end flanges arranged to lie against the webs of said rail ends with an intermediate socket forming offset, a block in said socket having a shoulder to receive the head of the rail ends with an upstanding flange adapted to be engaged by the tread of a car wheel, and means to connect said member to said rail ends.

5. A device of the character described,

mamas m comprising a connecting member including in said socket, as and for the purpose set a base portion from which extend oppositely forth. 10 positioned top flanges With an end flange In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, extending from each top flange adapted. to in the presence of two Witnesses.

lie against the Web of a rail said end flanges HUGH THOMAS HUGHES. being connected by means of an integral off- Witnesses:

set flange forming a socket, a Web-like open- BEssIE L. HECKMAN,

ing extending into said flange and a block S. M. STRAIN.

Homes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

